American Humane Association To Honor Naomi Judd

America’s oldest national humane organization will pay tribute to a legendary humanitarian next week in Palm Beach, Fla.

American Humane Association is honored to bestow its Humane Legacy Award to country music superstar and noted activist Naomi Judd at the Lady in Red Gala to be held at the Mar-a-Lago Club on December 7. Ms. Judd will be recognized for her tireless dedication to helping the infirmed and society’s most vulnerable.

She was first known to the world as half of country music’s mother-daughter duo, The Judds. Reaching unprecedented success throughout the 80’s and 90’s, The Judds sold 20 million records, scored fifteen number one hits, and received over sixty industry awards, including six Grammy’s and seven consecutive CMA Vocal Group of the Year awards and the ACM’s Top Vocal Duet award.

Her rise to the top of the country music charts was sadly cut short when she was diagnosed with Hepatitis C, a chronic liver disease, having first contracted the disease from an infected needle during her previous career as a registered nurse. Though The Judds retired from the music industry, Ms. Judd did not retreat from the public spotlight, instead becoming the first national spokesperson for the American Liver Foundation. Utilizing her fame and passion for helping people she helped spread awareness of this potentially fatal disease, helping to save untold lives.

Ms. Judd’s charity work is far-reaching, and includes River Cities Harvest, the Saint Louis University Liver Center, M.A.D.D., Parents Television Council, Make-A-Difference Day, Women’s World Peace Initiative, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and her own July 4th Judd’s Annual Food Drive to benefit families of Appalachia. Notably, for the past two years she has served as a celebrity judge and presenter at the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards, a celebration of heroes on both ends of the leash.

“Naomi is the living embodiment of a humanitarian, and we cannot think of anyone more deserving of our Humane Legacy Award,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane Association’s President and CEO. “She has dedicated her life to making the world a better place for so many, both two- and four-legged. American Humane Association is lucky to count her among our biggest advocates.”

The 20th Annual Lady in Red Gala is presented by the Lois Pope LIFE Foundation will be hosted by the famed comedian and “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno with proceeds benefiting American Humane Association. For more information on this year’s “A Night in Rio”-themed event, click here.

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